TEDxSnoIsleLibraries 2017 is coming Nov. 4

Ken Harvey, Sno-Isle Libraries Communications Director and licensee for TEDxSnoIsleLibraries, welcomes a speaker to the stage at the 2016 event. Speaker nominations for 2017 are open June 3-11. Photo gallery

TEDxSnoIsleLibraries 2017

In 2015, Sno-Isle Libraries crossed its organizational fingers and launched TEDxSnoIsleLibraries. In 2016, the tremendous success and support from the inaugural effort propelled even greater community interest. The reserved seating was snapped up in the first 30 hours of availability.

So what’s up for 2017?

“We’re going to try some new things,” said Ken Harvey, Sno-Isle Libraries Communications Director and licensee for TEDxSnoIsleLibraries. “The event will be at Kamiak High School in the Mukilteo School District and the program will be a bit shorter, from 1-5 p.m., Nov. 4, a Saturday afternoon.”

Registration for the free event will open this fall. Speaker nominations are accepted June 3-11.

The two previous TEDxSnoIsleLibraries events were all-day Friday affairs at Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA).

Moving to a Saturday will allow attendance by those who couldn’t come on a work day, Harvey said. An afternoon schedule means attendees will have time for other activities that day.

The 2017 event also will feature more interaction between attendees and the speakers.

“TEDx is a powerful format to share ideas. Audience members get energized and want to ask questions of the speakers,” Harvey said. “We’re going to use the classrooms at Kamiak to create spaces for audience members and the speakers to continue sharing ideas.”

The popular IdeaLab will be back, with space for interactive, informational and display opportunities.

“TEDxSnoIsleLibraries was always envisioned as an event that not only represents the vibrancy of the entire library district, but would also physically move to different locations in Snohomish and Island counties,” Harvey said of the venue change.

“We’re thankful for the wonderful support provided by ECA, the City of Edmonds and the entire Edmonds community,” he said. “The audience and experience built with the help of ECA leadership and staff is invaluable and allows TEDxSnoIsleLibraries to continue to meet its goals and those of the library district.

TEDxSnoIsleLibraries aligns with Sno-Isle Libraries’ priorities of building civic engagement and addressing community issues, he said.

Sno-Isle Libraries Executive Director Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory has noted that Sno-Isle Libraries is all about ideas and that TEDxSnoIsleLibraries is, in essence, a library without walls.